Need help w/1st tank build

Tim Duncan · 03/06/2012, 12:16 PM

Hello everyone, I have been reefing for a little over a year now and have decided to do my 1st tank build. My last tank was a Red Sea Max 250, which was plug-n-play, so I didn't need to learn anything about building my own setup. My new tank will be 185g (60x30x24) with a 55g sump. I don't know anything about how to plumb the system

, so I could use some advice. I want to have a lot of turnover and flow in the system, so what would be the best way to do that? If u need more details about my setup, just ask.....the tank is being built right now and should be ready in about 2-3 weeks. If u have any advice, please feel free to let me know, thanks.

daplatapus · 03/06/2012, 12:59 PM

I guess one of the things you'll need to decide is what kind of overflow you'll want. I would recommend either the bean animal or herbie. Both run dead quite. There's also the durso style but I think quite a few people find it's not as quiet as they'd like. That decision will affect where and how holes are drilled into your tank, so read up on them and make a choice.

Tim Duncan · 03/06/2012, 01:59 PM

I'm sorry, I forgot to mention that the tank will have an external coast to coast overflow, plumbed for a bean animal.

schatzi · 03/06/2012, 03:17 PM

Powerheads or closed loop? You probably know but it's one of these methods that give you most of the flow in the tank. The return from the sump is not enough in a tank as large as yours.

Tim Duncan · 03/06/2012, 04:28 PM

I guess I will use powerheads, since I don't want to drill a ton of holes in my tank for a closed loop. If I got a large enough return pump, couldn't I use that for extra flow?

saltysailor2329 · 03/06/2012, 05:26 PM

I would be more concerned about flow in the DT becuase the overflows and returns should give you plenty ofmovement through the sump. This can be accomplished with some Vortechs. I'm running two MP40s and will be adding either an MP10 or another MP40 on my 125g. Maybe you could do a three MP40s, one on each side and one on the back.

saltysailor2329 · 03/06/2012, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Duncan

I guess I will use powerheads, since I don't want to drill a ton of holes in my tank for a closed loop. If I got a large enough return pump, couldn't I use that for extra flow?

Remember that your overflows can only handle so much so regardless of how big the return pump is it will be limited by overflow size with that said yes your returns will need to be taken into account when you are calculating total flow in your system.

03/06/2012, 12:16 PM	#1
Tim Duncan Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 60	Need help w/1st tank build Hello everyone, I have been reefing for a little over a year now and have decided to do my 1st tank build. My last tank was a Red Sea Max 250, which was plug-n-play, so I didn't need to learn anything about building my own setup. My new tank will be 185g (60x30x24) with a 55g sump. I don't know anything about how to plumb the system , so I could use some advice. I want to have a lot of turnover and flow in the system, so what would be the best way to do that? If u need more details about my setup, just ask.....the tank is being built right now and should be ready in about 2-3 weeks. If u have any advice, please feel free to let me know, thanks.

03/06/2012, 12:59 PM	#2
daplatapus Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Port Alberni, B.C., Canada Posts: 895	I guess one of the things you'll need to decide is what kind of overflow you'll want. I would recommend either the bean animal or herbie. Both run dead quite. There's also the durso style but I think quite a few people find it's not as quiet as they'd like. That decision will affect where and how holes are drilled into your tank, so read up on them and make a choice. __________________ 130 lbs Tonga LR, GFO and Carbon reactors, Tunze ozmolator ATO, 2- 20 gal QT tanks, Current Tank Info: 80 gal display 48L X 24H X16D, 2 MP-40's, Odyssea 2-250W MH 4-HO T-5 Actinic's, 80 lbs Aragonite sand, 4 - 150W titanium heaters, Reeflo Baracuda return pump, 150gal sump, Filter Guys Reef Miser 6 stage + 1 Dual RO/DI, LifeReef 48" Skimmer

03/06/2012, 03:17 PM	#4
schatzi Professional amateur Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: JC, MO Posts: 513	Powerheads or closed loop? You probably know but it's one of these methods that give you most of the flow in the tank. The return from the sump is not enough in a tank as large as yours. __________________ 125g Mixed Reef, 46g predator tank, 25g fuge, 39g frag/fuge, 70g sump, 29g clown tank.

03/06/2012, 05:26 PM	#6
saltysailor2329 Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Frederick, CO Posts: 547	I would be more concerned about flow in the DT becuase the overflows and returns should give you plenty ofmovement through the sump. This can be accomplished with some Vortechs. I'm running two MP40s and will be adding either an MP10 or another MP40 on my 125g. Maybe you could do a three MP40s, one on each side and one on the back. __________________ 200g DD has been wet since March 16, 2013!!!! Running 40g breeder w/20L sump is currently acting as the QT.

03/06/2012, 01:59 PM	#3
Tim Duncan Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 60	I'm sorry, I forgot to mention that the tank will have an external coast to coast overflow, plumbed for a bean animal.

03/06/2012, 04:28 PM	#5
Tim Duncan Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 60	I guess I will use powerheads, since I don't want to drill a ton of holes in my tank for a closed loop. If I got a large enough return pump, couldn't I use that for extra flow?